Reproduced from "Whistle Stop" by Joe Eldridge, AYSO National Referee Administrator, at WhistleStop@ayso.org.

Things You Didn't Know
About Things You Know Well

Referees must make quick decisions and the luxury of time to think it over, look it up, or discuss it with someone is not an option during the game. Test your knowledge and see if you can answer the following questions.

November 20, 2008 Challenge

What should the referee do and how is play restarted, if ...

1. During a throw-in for the red team, the ball hits the referee and rebounds directly to the red team player who took the throw-in and is now on the field of play and shoots the ball into the blue team's goal?

2. During a penalty kick for the red team in regulation time, the ball rebounds from the goal post and is deflected off the referee directly to the red team kicker who shoots the ball into the blue team's goal?

3. During a dropped ball, the ball bounces, hits the referee and goes directly to the nearest red team player who shoots the ball into the blue team's goal?

For answers, click here.

November 13, 2008 Challenge

What should the referee do and how is play restarted if a red team player with clear possession of the ball is about to take a shot at an open goal from just inside the blue team's penalty area when...

1. A dog runs on to the field and interferes with the red team player thus denying the obvious goal scoring opportunity?

2. A blue team substitute runs on to the field and interferes with the red team player thus denying the obvious goal scoring opportunity?

For answers, click here.

November 6, 2008 Challenge

What should the referee do and how is play restarted if the referee blows the whistle ...

1. For the opening kickoff for the red team, but before the ball is kicked a red team player steps across the halfway line and violently strikes a blue team player who does not retaliate?

2. To end the first half, and then a red team player violently strikes a blue team player who does not retaliate?

3. To end the match, and then a red team player violently strikes a blue team player who does not retaliate?

For answers, click here.

October 30, 2008 Challenge

What should the referee do and how is play restarted, if, during a kick from the penalty mark by the red team to determine a winner in a drawn match (a tie), the ball hits the crossbar and bounces slightly forward then the ball...

1. Hits the blue team's goalkeeper in the back of the head and rebounds directly into the goal?

2. Hits the ground and is accidentally deflected into the goal by the blue team's goalkeeper?

For answers, click here.

October 23, 2008 Challenge

The blue team's goalkeeper is out of position and a red team player shoots at the unprotected goal. A blue defender inside his own penalty area uses his shinguard to cover his hand and deliberately attempts to prevent the goal by hitting the ball with his shinguard. What should the referee do and how is play restarted if:

1. The ball is deflected directly into the blue defender's goal?

2. The ball is deflected away from the goal and out of play across the blue team's goal line?

For answers, click here.

October 16, 2008 Challenge

Red player #10 takes a shot from the left side of the blue team's goal, while red player #11 is in an offside position on the right side of the blue team's goal but not interfering with play or with the opponents. What should the referee do and how is play restarted if:

1. The goalkeeper dives and deflects the ball with his open hands directly to red player #11 who shoots the ball into the blue team's goal.

2. The goalkeeper parries the ball to the ground to play with his feet but the ball takes an unexpected bounce and goes to red player #11 who shoots the ball into the blue team's goal.

3. The goalkeeper punches the ball away from the goal with his closed fists and it goes to red player #11 who shoots the ball into the blue team's goal.

4. The ball goes directly into the blue team's goal.

For answers, click here.

October 2, 2008 Challenge

1) During a kick from the penalty mark by the red team to determine a winner in a drawn match (a tie), the ball rebounds from the blue team's goalkeeper back to the kicker who kicks the ball directly past the goalkeeper into the goal. What should the referee do? How is play restarted?

2) During a kick from the penalty mark by the red team to determine a winner in a drawn match (a tie), the ball rebounds from the upright back (crossbar) to the kicker who kicks the ball directly past the blue team's goalkeeper into the goal. What should the referee do? How is play restarted?

For answers, click here.

August 7, 2008 Challenge

1) An attacker on the red team shoots and the blue team's goalkeeper deliberately controls the ball by parrying it to the ground, then dribbles to the top of the penalty-area, collects the ball with his hands and punts the ball toward the half-way line. What should the referee do and how is play restarted?

2) A substitute for the red team, while sitting on the bench, throws a shoe at a player on the blue team who is standing on the field of play near the half-way line while the ball is in play. What should the referee do and how is play restarted?

For answers, click here.

July 10th, 2008 Challenge

1) From a throw-in, a player throws the ball directly at his own goalkeeper who misses the ball completely and it goes into the thrower's own goal. What should the referee do and how is play restarted?

2) A defender unintentionally kicks the ball towards his own goal. The defender's goalkeeper catches the ball with his hands before it enters the goal. What should the referee do and how is play restarted?

For answers, click here.